SAREP
The second edition of the Development Partners’ Meeting on Clean Energy Transition in South Asia, organized by USAID through its South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) program, was held on May 28 in Delhi. The meeting was attended by Ambassador Eric Garcetti and Deputy Assistant Administrator at USAID, Änjali Kaur, who emphasized the strong partnership between the United States and India in advancing regional energy collaboration and clean energy initiatives. Ambassador Garcetti described the climate crisis as the defining challenge of our lifetime, highlighting the vulnerability of nearly one million people in the South Asia. He stressed the importance of convening stakeholders, constructing sustainable solutions, and rethinking our future, asserting that South Asia’s success is crucial for global success. His remarks also covered USAID’s efforts to achieve climate targets, expand green manufacturing and electric vehicles, and enhance cross-border power trade.
Änjali Kaur discussed the role of USAID’s SAREP program in tapping into South Asia’s vast energy potential to mitigate the climate crisis, noting that the Development Partners Meet is an essential platform for identifying gaps and opportunities to speed up the clean energy transition in the region. The meeting saw the participation of development partner organizations that included representatives from the European Union, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, JICA and GIZ. The Meeting saw the launch of seven dynamic working groups that were identified in the first Development Partners Meet in December 2023. These groups deliberated on priority areas within their themes: renewable energy, electricity distribution, net zero and energy efficiency, e-mobility and green hydrogen, financing mechanisms, just transition, and cross-border electricity trade. They also developed forward-looking strategies in breakout sessions, focusing on defining the next steps. The meeting was attended by 20 external participants from across 13 development partners.
The event concluded with a consensus on the importance of ongoing collaboration and active engagement among all participants to drive forward a sustainable future for clean energy in South Asia.
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